ISLAMABAD: World Health Organization (WHO) has fixed the target of 2.9 million children for vaccination against measles in its ongoing campaign in eight districts of Sindh.

According to WHO, children from the age of nine months to 10 years will be vaccinated during this campaign which was started as an emergency response to the outbreak in the province.

Country Representative of WHO in Pakistan, Dr. Guido Sabatinelli said that measles campaign will continue till January 9 in districts included Sukkur,Khairpur, Larkana, Qamber-Shadadkot, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Ghotki and Kashmore.

He said a total of 1,300,000 vaccine doses have been dispatched by the authorities.

He added WHO is recommending adequate steps both on emergency and long-term basis to the provincial governments to ensure that routine immunization coverage is made accessible to each and every child.

He said at an average, one single EPI vaccination center in a Union.

Council caters for a population of 20,000 to 30,000.

He said that the government of Pakistan's Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI), which is technically supported by WHO and UNICEF aims at protecting children aged 0-1 months by immunizing them against Childhood Tuberculosis, Poliomyelitis, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Hepatitis B, Meningitis, Haemophilus Influenzae and Measles.

The program also protects newborn against neonatal tetanus by giving TT vaccine to all pregnant mothers, he added.